Mounting for frames in building walls



Feb. 13, 1940. D. 'r. DOWNES MOUNTING FOR FRAMES IN BUILDING W ALLS Filed Oct. 7, 1958 /vz '/v7-0/ Dam/E1. 7. Dow/v55 avg/$442k; $6 k PatentedFeb.13,194Oi V 2,190,354

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOUNTING FOR "FRAMES IN ,BUILDING WA Daniel T. Downes, Pittsburgh, 3a., assignor to PittsburghrPlate Glass Company, Allegheny County, Pa., a corporation' of Pennsylvania Application ompe 1938, Serial No. 233,768

' i 6 Claims.- (o1. 72-41 The present, invention relates to means' for I together'with adjustable means for placing com-W supporting or securing frames in building walls pression thereupon. t

a d a y i Walls COmDOSBd of r iv ly In the drawing like numerals refer to like parts frangible materials. throughout. 7 j g ,One object of the invention is to provide vIn accordance with the provisions of the pres- 5 mountings of the foregoing type which are adaptent invention a frame or chase 'l which may be ed to maintain the frames in proper position square, rectangular, or any other convenient in the opening's in thewalls and, yet,v which will outline and formed of channel-like sections 8, permit of slight relative movement betweenthe which may be of iron, steel, aluminum, or any 10 frames and the adjacent portions of the walls. other appropriate material is disposed. in an 10 A second object of the invention is to provide opening 9" in wall ill comp'osed of blocks II'.; The means for yieldably supporting the load of the sections shown in Figure 2 comprise a web ll? wall above the frame. v I w and marginal flanges I3 adapted to receive the In order to obtain a, building wall capable of edge portions of the building blocks. The blocks transmitting light and of high thermal insula may, comprise any convenient material, but as tion value, itjhas heretofore been proposed to previously stated the invention is particularly ap-- employ hollow blocks or bricks of glass as a plicable to hollowv glassblocksof conventional j building material. Such blocks or bricks were design and which are bonded together by layers characterized by relatively low coefficients of ex- 16 of cement.

20 pansion and contractionwith changes of'temperae The frame I "is resiliently supported within 20 ture, while the ooefliciento-f metal frameworks the opening 9 by means of a spring "which is high. Likewise, building walls f were subject may comprise a continuous or sectional band'or to settling and deflection by wind. As a result strip of relatively resilient material such' as of relative movement between the frames and the steel or the like.- The band preferably is bent portions of the walls adjacent thereto exce'ssive to provide'a series of almostcompletely closed 25 stresses were exerted upon the relatively franloops l8, the vertices of which preferably-are gible blocks, thus causing breakage of the lat-" substantiallyflattened in order to provide relater. If the walls did not contact with the frames, tively broad bearing surfaces which alternately particularly across the lintels, the support afcontact with a bed or layer l9 of "cement, or

forded the blocks adjacent to the openings was other appropriate material about the edgesof 30 not sufficient to maintain the latter securely in the opening and the web [2. As will be obposition, and loosening and cracking of the ce- 7 served in Figure 2 the blocks across the top of ment might result. the frame may be further supported by means In accordance with the provisions of the pres-' of reinforcing rods orwires 2| embedded in the 3'5 ent invention the foregoing dimculties are subcementing materiah Similar reinforcements stantially obviated by provision of frames, which may also beprovided along the lower edge of comprise outwardly directed flanges providing the openingand likewise along the sides.

chases or channels adapted to engage the edges Cover :22 of metal-may be laid between layer of the openings and including spring elements I I9 and the springs inorder-to prevent the'cement,

. 40 disposed withinthe channels adapted resiliently while soft, from flowingcbetween the loops I8 40 e For a better understanding of the" invention well as'the tops.

to maintain the frames in proper relationship and thus impairing operation of the latter. These to the edges of the openings and simultaneously covers may be in the form of simple straps covto provide adequate support for the marginal ering the top portions only or they may in-, blocks about the openings. clude skirts housing'the 'sides of the loops as 45 reference may now be had to the accompanying In the form of' the invention illustrated in drawings in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary FigureS the frame land spring I! areidentical view showing in cross section the construction with those described, but loops I 8 rest upon or of a frame and the spring mountings therefor, engage a plate or bar 25, disposed between the together with portions of theladjacent 'wall, flanges l3 and this bar in turn is supported'by 50 Figure 2 isa fragmentary cross-sectional view set screws 26 which are threaded" outwardly taken substantially upon the line I I- -II of Fig: through the sections ll in such manner that by ure 1 andFigure 3 .is a fragmentary cross-sec? adjustment of the screws the pressure exerted tional view showing upon a larger scale a portion upon the springs or loops l8 maybe regulated of one of the oonvolutions of a mounting spring, I at will. By means of this construction'it is 'pos- 55 sible to obtain any desired degree (within reasonable limits) of rigidity of the frame in the opening in the wall. Likewise, it is possible so to adjust the springs as to support any appropriate proportion of the load of the wall upon the frame.

The springs may be employed as independent elements which are inserted in the channels of the frame when the latter is assembled in a wall. However, for convenience of handling,

they may also be attached, by rivets or clamps,

or by welding or soldering or brazing at appropriate spots to the web l2, or to the'plate .25;

to provide completed assemblies.

The springs may extend entirely around the frame or if preferred may be. employed merely along one or more sides, for example the top or bottom, as the conditions of loading may require.

The mounting springs constituting the subject matter of the present invention admit-pf relative movement between the frame tocompensate for difierentials of movement, dueto thermal expansion or contraction between thevglass blocks and the frame. Likewise, areasonable degree of settling of movement in the wall is permitted without subjecting the glass blocks to crushing forces. However, the frame is always maintained in proper position within the opening and the locks above the opening are always adequately supported, thus obviating cracking of the cement between them.

The embodiment of the invention herein dis? ing at the verticesof the sinuationsalternately with the webs between the flanges of the sections, and the marginal portions of the openings resiliently to support the frame.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1. in g. I

which the vertices of the sinuations are flattenedto provide extensive bearing surfaces for the spring.

3. A building construction embodying a wall comprising hollow blocks of glass, said wallhaving an opening formed therein, a frame disposed in the opening, the frame comprising channel sections including webs and outwardly directed marginal flanges and a resilient member disposed between the webs and the adjacent marginal portions of the opening, the resilient member" comprising a sinuously bent strip 'of resilient meta-l extending lengthwise of the sections. and having the vertices of the sinuations. contact ing alternately with' the webs and said marginal portions.

4.'A framefor openings in buildings, comprising a chase, a plate disposed in the chase, resilient elements secured .upon the face of the plate andadaptedto engage theinner periphery of an opening in a wall and screws threaded elements. c

5. A construction as defined in claim in which the vertices of the sinuations are substantially flattened in order to provide more ex-" with the webs and the marginal nortion s'of the,

opening.

6. A framev structure for an opening in abui1ding wall, said structure comprising channel secthe flanges, screw means threaded through the web for adjusting the plate outwardly, and re-.

silient means upon the, plate-forengaging the marginal portions of the opening to support the frame resiliently therein, said means comprising! a continuous strip of resilient metal bent to through-the chase and; engaging the plate and being adjustable to vary the-distance'between the chase and the plate in orderto regulate the pressure exerted by the plate-upon the resilient 3 .2 tensive bearing surfaces at the points offlconta'ct provide loops, the vertices of which alternately engage the plate and the adjacent marginal por tions of the opening.

as? I tions including a web, outwardly directed.mar nginal flanges, a movable plate disposed between DANIEL T. DowNEs; 

